Team Roping, Family Values, and Finding Your Winning Formula with Wesley Thorp

When Jonathon Haralson sits down with Wesley Thorp for the latest “Your Ag Empire” podcast, he knows he's talking to someone who embodies the best of the cowboy spirit. Thorp, a 10-time NFR qualifier and 3-time world champion team roper, isn't just a master of his sport; he's a devoted family man, a savvy businessman, and a grounded role model.

More than a profile, the episode is an honest look at the rodeo life. From his Texas roots to balancing family and competition, Haralson gets the chance to show Thorp’s life of "hard work, long hauls, and pressure of performing under the bright lights can coexist with family life and strong values."

From Chores to Championships: A Cowboy's Foundation

Thorp's journey began on a ranch, where he learned the value of hard work and developed a deep connection to the land and livestock. Thorp recalls how his grandfather instilled in him a love for horses and a strong work ethic.

As Thorp rose through the ranks of the rodeo world, he carried those values with him. However, he recognizes what he appreciates now wasn't always apparent. He admits that he "probably took that for granted at one time," of the solid role models growing up, but looking back, it’s what got him to where he is today.

Family First: Keeping the Circle Tight on the Road

What sets Thorp apart is his commitment to his family. His wife and children travel alongside him, experiencing the highs and lows of the rodeo life firsthand. 

“To someone listening, to be gone that much, they wouldn’t know how they would function,” Haralson quips about life on the road.

However, this is no haphazardly pieced-together lifestyle. Thorp finds a way to balance career and family; he is deliberate. They find small ways to have the boys "roping with other people" to connect as well.

For Thorp, it's not a sacrifice to make that time, because it's what helps give balance, "it is so good having them there because nothing changes." Regardless of his success or failure, he finds his family provides the steady ground, support, and joy he thrives on.

The Financial Tightrope: Rodeo as a Business

Haralson pushes Thorp to discuss his approach to rodeo as a business, emphasizing the importance of sound money management. Thorp doesn’t shy away from sharing what it takes to run a successful business, as “there's no lack of what you can spend." In that world, he has built a framework where the key factor is having a plan.

He warns against getting caught up in the "glamorous" trappings of the sport, emphasizing the need to prioritize saving and long-term financial security. 

More Than Just a Roping: A Legacy of Values

Ultimately, this episode isn't just about rodeo; it's about finding a winning formula that aligns with your values and allows you to live a fulfilling life. Haralson notes that in this conversation with Thorp, he hopes listeners will take away with them, in their own fields, the encouragement to "keep building your empire" with all it entails.

He knows, in those hard times, as Thorp has modeled, "God always creates opportunity for us and sometimes we have to look at it and see through it, how are we gonna grow, whether the good or the bad that comes."

By the close of their time together, Haralson reminds listeners they need to live what it looks like to stay grounded, stay grateful, and create a path in the direction of the Lord in all facets of your life.